In the Scripture passages before Matthew 11:25-26 we see God’s people rejecting God’s Messiah. Jesus sees what happens to John, his forerunner, as what will happen to himself: unbelief and rejection (Matthew 11:2–19). He condemns that unbelief in Israel (Matthew 11:20–24).
Why does Jesus so emphatically pronounce judgment on three cities in Israel? Jesus speaks strong words against the cities in which most miracles were done to show his power and divinity. If those things had happened in the city of the greatest wickedness, like Sodom, they would have repented in awe of God’s power. But Capernaum, his hometown—Capernaum, who had seen so much of Jesus—was amazed, impressed, and thrilled, yet did not turn to Jesus.
In God's judgment he differentiates between people. According to God’s fair principle, much will be demanded of everyone who has been given much, and the one who has been given much will be judged more severely (see Matthew 11:20–24 and Luke 12:48).
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;